Special feature
The Mai-Kai cocktail guide

Okole Maluna Society

The Atomic Grog reviews and rates more than 50 of The Mai-Kai's amazing tropical drinks from the current menu plus reveals many lost classics. Add your comments and ratings, plus check out the ancestor and exclusive tribute recipes.
Friends of The Mai-Kai
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Special tribute

The Mai-Kai is here to stay: 10 reasons why we love the historic South Florida restaurant

A reminder of what makes this Fort Lauderdale landmark special as it promises to entertain, fascinate and satisfy us for years to come.

Special event

New giant carved Tiki added to The Mai-Kai’s outdoor garden in time for 60th anniversary

Looming 12 feet tall in the outdoor Tiki garden is Hiroa Nui, a new carving by a local artist who has spearheaded a resurgence of traditional artwork at the acclaimed Polynesian restaurant.
• The Mai-Kai turns 60 with history presentations, celebration

Available now!
The Mai-Kai book release

Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant

The definitive book on the histoic Fort Lauderdale Tiki temple has been released. Get your copy now.

Event recaps
Hulaween 2016

A hauntingly good time at historic Mai-Kai’s 8th annual Hulaween party

Costumed revelers packed The Molokai lounge for an evening of deadly tropical drinks and live music from Slip and the Spinouts. The highlight was the creepy and creative costume contest, a South Florida tradition.

Altered State Tattoo's 20th anniversary
Recipes: The Atomic Grog serves up exotic cocktails at artist's birthday bash

The Atomic Grog had the distinct pleasure of serving up cocktails on Aug. 27 for special guests of artist Mike "Pooch" Pucciarelli at the 20th anniversary party for Altered State Tattoo, the South Florida shop that has gained him a worldwide following for his highly creative ink.

‘Boozy’ blog celebrates fifth anniversary
The Atomic Grog celebrated its fifth anniversary on Saturday, April 30, with a cocktail party in The Molokai lounge at The Mai-Kai featuring live instrumental surf music from Skinny Jimmy Stingray, drink specials, giveaways, and more.

Mai-Kai news
The Atomic Grog exclusive

'King Kai' leads procession of new Tikis into The Mai-Kai
Thanks to a dedicated group of artists and supporters, The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale has been blessed with the arrival of a new clan of Tiki carvings, most notably the 10-foot “King Kai” that now holds court in the outdoor garden.

Rum & cocktails
Special event recaps

RumXP Awards announced at eighth annual spirits fest
Plantation won a festival-best eight RumXP awards for the third year in a row, while Hawaii’s Koloa took home seven.
• The Mai-Kai pre-party and Santeria Rum cocktail recipe
• Miami festival specializes in education, but reminds us that 'rum is fun'

Miami festival boldly explores the next frontier of cane spirits
In 2015, the event was less about the big brands flexing their muscle and more about the boutique labels showing off their innovation and commitment to craft.
• Special cocktail recipe: Mai-Kai Moai

The Art of Tiki: A Cocktail Showdown

Mixologists take Tiki cocktails to new artistic heights at South Beach Wine & Food Festival

A hometown favorite took home the top prize at The Art of Tiki: A Cocktail Showdown at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival on Feb. 26, while an enthusiastic bar team that traveled more than a thousand miles also came away a winner.

S. Fla. features, reviews

S. Fla. bars and restaurants

• Dada in embraces rum
• Innovative watering holes fuel rise of craft cocktails
• A Taste Of ... Dada
• Hullabaloo jazzes up Clematis Street with inventive cocktails
• Sweetwater introduces new cocktails, huge spirits menu
• Sweetwater: Shining beacon in food and drink wasteland

Book makes waves, gives state's rich surfing history its due
When you examine the sport of surfing and its surrounding culture, Florida is sometimes overlooked while hot spots such as California and Hawaii grab the spotlight. A new book could go a long way toward changing that perception.
Past coverage
• Florida at forefront of surf rock's contemporary renaissance

Retro culture

Modern Retro Disney World
Enchanted Tiki Room still charms, inspires
Keeping Walt Disney's vision alive since 1971, this landmark theme park attraction received a welcome refurbishment in 2011 that heralded the return of the vintage show that pays tribute to the original Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland.
• Enchanted Tiki Room 50th anniversary

A journey back in time uncovers 'Disney side'
My first visit to the Magic Kingdom in Orlando was in 1972, but it wasn't until decades later that events conspired to make me a fan for life.
Retro Disney World
• 30 years of Epcot magic
• Artists shine at 40th birthday party
• Disney World is still cool at 40

Culture & travel

Stretching the limits
of the imagination
The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg is a surreal experience in its own right.
• Mermaids alive, well at Weeki Wachee

Special event
The Hukilau 2017: June 7-11

Daily recaps, photos and video
Get the latest news and updates, plus live coverage from the the 16th annual Tiki weekender in Fort Lauderdale.
Previous news: Updated schedule, drawing and silent auction

The Atomic Grog explores 60 years of Tiki cocktail history
More than 100 Tiki explorers took a trip through time, from 1956 to the present day, via the lavish tropical drink menus of the world famous Mai-Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale during The Hukilau on Sunday, June 11.

5 questions with ...
Ian Burrell, the global ambassador of rum
There's nobody better suited to represent rum than the globe-trotting Ian "Rum Ambassador" Burrell, a UK native of Jamaican descent who seems to have the fun and lively spirit running through his veins.

Savage Jungle Swimshow, Tiki Tower Takeover, Kickoff Party and Tiki Treasures Bazaar, Shag's SkyLounge, After Party at Kreepy Tiki

Day 1: Smuggler's Cove book signing, Pre-Party at The Mai-Kai, The Wreck Bar mermaid show

A look back: The Hukilau history

Tiki Kiliki: 15 years of The Hukilau,
15 years of memories
Video: A look back at The Hukilau’s first 14 years

Tiki culture

10 reasons why you need Sven Kirsten’s new book, Tiki Pop
The third hardcover opus from acclaimed Tiki urban archaeologist Sven Kirsten puts many pop culture historians to shame, exploring in rich and colorful detail the uniquely American phenomenon that permeated fashion, music, eating, drinking, and architecture for decades.

A deep dive into the history of porthole cocktail lounges and their mysterious mermaids

If you've ever wondered about the origins of the porthole lounge, or where you can still find one inhabited by live mermaids, then "Cocktails & Fishtails" was a must-see among The Hukilau's symposiums in 2014.
Past coverage
• Tiki artists salute The Mai-Kai with one-of-a-kind mugs
• PBS stations say aloha to long-awaited documentary
• Massive Shag volcano bowl released
• Mini Mystery Bowl: Scaled-down version of a classic
• 6 ways to celebrate Tiki all year long

Spirits, cocktails

Navy Rum and Black Tot Day
When men were men, and sailors drank Daiquiris
No other spirit has as deep and rich a legacy as rum, best exemplified by the fascinating story of the 300-year history of the daily ration given to members of the British Royal Navy. More than drunken revelry, they should be acknowledged for pioneering the fine craft of blending rums.
New recipe: Atomic Painkiller

National Tequila Day
Spice up your tequila cocktails with fiery gourmet syrups
A great margarita never goes out of style and has been embraced and elevated by the craft cocktail movement, with great results. One tasty sub-genre is the spicy cocktail, typically infused with hot peppers and myriad spices.
Reviews and recipes:
Habanero Lime Margarita | Ghost Host

Tales of the Cocktail
Signature drink packs a wallop, but can it tame a Hurricane inspired by The Mai-Kai?
The official cocktail of 12th annual festival that draws tens of thousands of people to New Orleans is not some highbrow cult classic or trendy new concoction. It's the mighty yet maligned Hurricane.
Reviews and recipes: Hurricane Caesar vs. The Mai-Kai Hurricane

Navy Grog ice cone: Lost art is revived by cocktail enthusiasts
Author and cocktail historian Jeff "Beachbum" Berry solidified his standing as the "Indiana Jones" of Tiki mixology with his first branded product, unearthing a long-lost gadget from the catacombs of mid-century bar culture: Beachbum Berry's Navy Grog Ice Cone Kit.
Related stories
• Jeff Berry proves he’s never too busy to be a 'Beachbum'
• Potions of the Caribbean: Cruise back to the birthplace of Tiki drinks

Review: Ice sphere molds
Home mixologists can get crafty with ice molds, modern cocktails
We put two new products to the test, proving that you don't need to be an ice sculptor to join the craft cocktail bandwagon. Plus: A bonus recipe for a new orginal concoction.

Professor Cocktail's Zombie Horde
Zombies regaining critical mass: Book features 86 deadly recipes
Zombie Horde takes the recipes from some of the world's best bartenders and mixologists from the Zombie's sordid 80-year history and packages them into an easy-read, easy-to-use resource. Our review features recipes, history, analysis, a "Zombie face-off" and more.
• Devotees keep Zombie alive

Need a punch recipe for 200? The Rum Rat Pack has it covered
The experts at The Hukilau's 'Rumposium' showed us how to fill a bowl with 630 ounces of deliciousness (including 240 ounces of rum) with style and flair.

99 bottles of rum on the wall
Rating the top cane spirits
The Atomic Grog recently reached a landmark by acquiring a 99th bottle of rum. The occasion provided even more reason to literally take stock of this booty.

Miami mixologist shows how to jazz up your tired old cocktails

Freddy Diaz of AlambiQ Mixology demonstrated a few tricks (and recipes) with exotic liqueurs Cherry Heering and Xante pear liqueur at a cocktail seminar at the 2012 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

Special feature

The Tiki Times: Events Calendar
August means Tiki Oasis, surf guitar and hot summer events

Check out our latest monthly guide to what’s going on across the world of Tiki culture, a definitive resource of where to find special events that touch on topics of interest to many Tikiphiles. You’ll find all the major Tiki festivals, plus smaller gatherings along with events that scratch our itch for rum and cocktails, surf and rockabilly music, mid-century modern design, and more.
Past event recaps
July: Tales of the Cocktail takes over
June: The Hukilau, Ohana: Luau At The Lake, Tiki Kon and more
May: Tiki Caliente, more summer kickoff parties
April: Surf and rockabilly, Miami Rum Festival, Chicago Area Tiki Tour
March: Shag art shows, Tiki bars and festivals, surf rock
The Tiki Times: Check the main page for full coverage

The Tiki Times: News and Recap
February 2017: Bar openings and closings, cocktail competitions, Modernism Week, plus more
A summary of all the top Tiki news, plus updates on bar openings and closings, the world of rum, plus more!

South Florida news
Restaurant openings, closings

Kapow! replacing Longboards in downtown West Palm Beach
Longboards, the surf-themed restaurant and bar in downtown West Palm Beach, closed unexpectedly after five years of serving up fresh seafood and good vibes to the 500 block of Clematis Street. In its place, the veteran restaurateurs who own the building and neighboring Hullabaloo restaurant plan to open a second location of their successful Asian street-food concept, Kapow!

Tiki news
The Week in Tiki

Weekly recaps
• May 1-30: Recap Tiki Caliente; preview Tiki Kon, Tales of the Cocktail and Tiki Oasis; Tiki bar news and more!
• New Beachbum Berry glassware, 'Sippin' Safari' 10-year anniversary edition; plus event and Tiki bar news
• April 16-30: New Beachbum Berry glassware, 'Sippin' Safari' 10-year anniversary edition; plus event and Tiki bar news

• April 1-15: The Hukilau, Tiki Caliente and more upcoming events; Miami fest's award-winning rums; Tiki bar openings and closings
• March 16-31: Lost Lake fire and more Tiki bar news, event previews, Lemon Hart rum returning?
• March 1-15: Trader Vic’s Portland closes, The Hukilau and more event updates
• Feb. 16-29: Rum and Tiki event roundup, new Tiki bars in D.C., S.F., photos and event recaps
• Feb. 1-15: Aloha to 5 new Tiki bars across the U.S., Shag at Modernism Week, Plantation Pineapple rum, plus more
• Jan. 16-31: The Mai-Kai mugs and history book, The Art of Tiki updates, Shag events and art, plus more
• Jan. 1-15: New Tikis to rise at The Mai-Kai, Lost Lake honored, Smuggler's Cove book release, Tiki in SoBe

Special feature
The Year in Tiki 2015

Legends lost, but revival becomes renaissance with new bars, music, art and more
It was a year of both sadness and elation, when some legends were lost but the world of Tiki made great strides. We were bolstered by the fact that a new generation of artists and musicians are taking inspiration from the past and creating an incredible new body of work. And Tiki culture was embraced and celebrated across the country at sold-out events and a whole new wave of bars.

More from 2015
• Dec. 14-31: Preview new Tiki bars coming in 2016, festive New Year's events, a new Kon-Tiki voyage
• Nov. 30-Dec. 13: The Mai-Kai anniversary party, The Hukilau updates, Jungle Cruise restaurant at Disney World, Polynesian Resort lights torches
• Aug. 24-Sept. 6: Art icon The Pizz dies, September event previews and news, Tiki returns to South Beach fest


• Aug. 10-23: Tiki Oasis soars to new heights, plus D23 thrills Disney fans, The Hukilau 2016, more summer news
• July 27-Aug. 9: Tiki Oasis blasts off, plus Summer event recaps, more rum and cocktail news
• May 18-25: New Beachbum Berry barware, The Hukilau
• May 11-17: Robert Drasnin, master of exotica, dead at 87

• April 27-May 3: Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto grand opening
• April 20-26: Rum fest invades Miami, S. Fla.’s underwater Easter Island, Shag goes to ‘The Twilight Zone’

• April 6-12: Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows open

Music

South Florida scene: Gold Dust Lounge
Band sets sail on adventurous journey with Lost Sunset
A week after performing a sold-out show at The Mai-Kai during The Hukilau, the eclectic Miami band celebrated the release of the Kickstarter-funded Lost Sunset album.

Dick Dale exclusive interview & photos
Cancer survivor and rock legend: 'I had both feet in the grave'
Rock 'n' roll icon Dick Dale is in the midst of a career resurgence at age 76, despite battling cancer and other serious health issues that would have derailed musicians half his age. Check out our exclusive interview and photos from his 2013 concert in Miami.
• See the interview | Photos
• Related: Laramie Dean/Jimmy Dale concert photos | Laramie Dean interview

Take 5
5 questions with ...

Jeff 'Beachbum' Berry, Tiki cocktail historian extraordinaire
We caught up with the author in his natural habitat (The Mai-Kai gardens) and got his take on time travel, his new book, and his most loved (and loathed) drinks.

Otto von Stroheim, pioneering promoter and Tiki tastemaker
One cannot imagine what the modern Tiki revival would be like without Otto von Stroheim. A much less festive place, that's for sure. Check out our interview with the founder of Tiki Oasis.

Martin Cate, rum and cocktail maestro
The owner of Smuggler's Cove in San Francisco talks about his favorite drinks, a possible future project and why every city should have a great Tiki bar. Plus, bonus recipes for two of his most acclaimed cocktails.

Take 5 in South Florida
• Bar/restaurant pioneer Rodney Mayo
• Mai-Kai General Manager Kern Mattei
• Artist Mike "Pooch" Pucciarelli

In memoriam

• Wayne Coombs of Mai Tiki, 1949-2012

About The Atomic Grog
• What is The Atomic Grog?
• Contact us